Category: La vie

Once upon a time, the Polla sisters were the Polla girls. They were « my » girls, although I never liked to use the possessive, as they do not belong to anyone but themselves. As they often refer to me in this blog, as a source of inspiration and learnings, I wanted to return the favor.

Our Mom Barbara Polla did us the honor of writing our first 2019 blog – about us.

Once upon a time, the Polla Sisters were the Polla girls. They were « my » girls, although I never liked to use the possessive, as they do not belong to anyone but themselves. As they often refer to me in this blog, as a source of inspiration and learnings, I wanted to return the favor.

« When girls with a dream become women with a vision » they become this powerful, independent, impressive, gorgeous team. The team is all about sisterhood, womanhood, about caring, working, sharing, giving; about beauty, esthetics, smiling, thriving; it’s all about life and how complicated life can be for young women who want all of it.

At Christmas Eve, I suggested that all of those who were present (Roxane was working in the ER that night) share (specifically) why they love their children (and step children). Ada to Parker, Cyrille to Leo, Rachel to Sasha. What was stunning, is that they focused on how much they learn from their children. How gorgeous it is, to see them grow, and to build their own future. Thank you they said, all of them to each of them.

Thank you Polla Sisters, thank you for being a team. We women need to work in teams to succeed, whatever success means to each of us. Thank you for supporting me in my thrive for independence, my work as a gallerist and a writer, my desire to be as useful to the world as I possibly can, all the while still wanting me to be caring, kind, fun – and beautiful. I learn as much from you as you may have from me!

‘Tis the season… the season of gratitude, and the season of giving. In many ways, I find even more pleasure in giving the perfect gift than in receiving gifts! Finding the perfect gift for everyone really is one of the most satisfying things ever. If you are stuck buying yet another tie for your father, here are some out of the box ideas that will bring a smile to even the “hardest-to-shop-for-person-ever.”

‘Tis the season… the season of gratitude, and the season of giving. In many ways, I find even more pleasure in giving the perfect gift than in receiving gifts! Finding the perfect gift for everyone really is one of the most satisfying things ever. If you are stuck buying yet another tie for your father, here are some out of the box ideas that will bring a smile to even the “hardest-to-shop-for-person-ever.” (I have three of them on my list…)

I love thanksgiving so much that I’ve been perpetuating this American tradition in Switzerland for several years now. Tonight, after having cooked for 25 people, I sit back thinking of all that I am grateful for. One particular thing comes to mind. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to discover the south of the United States. I’ve only been fortunate enough to travel to Louisiana and Georgia, but I plan on doing a full southern road trip one day.

I love:

The hospitality – Southerners always make you feel welcome and no one knows how to host a better party.

The “Colgate” smiles – I’ve never found people with whiter teeth or bigger smiles. Not to mention the perfect lipstick.

« Love makes you beautiful ». You’ve heard it before, I know. It’s sounds like a universal truth that needs no explanation. I have been reflecting on this adage lately, how it relates to our work at Forever, and also how it relates to my personal experience.

When I talk about love, I’m not only referring to the romantic sense of the word, but to its more general significance – including love for yourself, your friends, your family, your home, your hobbies, and your job.

Love creates high-energy vibrations inside and around you; it elevates your spirit. Love makes you feel confident, carefree, and grateful. When you are in love, you are more powerful, more generous, and more optimistic. How can all these positive psychological manifestations not have an equally positive impact on your looks?

At Forever, when we translate our motto – « we enhance your natural beauty » – into actual facial treatments, the aim is generally to smoothen a frown line, lift the tip of an eyebrow, restore a fleshy volume to hollow cheeks, plump-up a lip and erase bitterness lines. It’s indeed all about generosity, confidence, and looking positively happy. Just like love.

Whether we recommend a procedure or a product, in addition to its dermatological benefits we always promote the concept of self-love through self-care, and self-care through skin care. That’s the key to beauty. And that is one reason why Love is the number 1 value of our family business and business family!

On a more personal note… Last month I did some home decluttering. I went through all my belongings and carefully chose which ones to keep. In the process I opened my dusty photo albums. Flicking through the pages, I saw my face change through the years, but also through my emotional states. I noticed with some surprise that regardless of my style, haircut and silly poses, in some albums I look great, and some not so much. Looking more carefully, here’s what I saw:

I found myself really beautiful at 15, eye to eye with my dark and mysterious first love; at 20, when I published my first poem book with my grandmother; at 26, while living la dolce vita in Italy and making peace with food; then again in my early 30s when love’s big bang made me bear a child; and finally today, at 38, just when I’m learning to really love myself.